Traffic chaos hits Portsmouth as major road is closed

Kimberley Barber

Crash causes long delays on the M27

Motorists have been left frustrated by traffic jams this weekend trying to get out of Portsmouth.

The delays were caused by works to a water bridge, which meant Eastern Road had to be closed to northbound traffic.

A driver uses the pavement to avoid congestion at a roundabout in Portsmouth. Picture: Tamzin Cormican

The works, being carried out by Colas on behalf of Portsmouth City Council, will also take place next weekend, except they will close the road to southbound traffic.

Eastern Road was closed to northbound traffic between Anchorage Road and the Eastern Road roundabout, Farlington, from 9pm on Friday.

A diversion was in place via Airport Service Road, Williams Road, Norway Road, Copnor Road, Old London Road and London Road.

However, this caused extensive traffic jams right across the city.

Scores of people took to social media to vent their frustrations.

Martin Parkin tweeted: ‘Close the Eastern Road Portsmouth on a Saturday match day? What absolute idiot made that decision?! Total gridlock!’

Joanne Shipp, from Milton, was caught in the traffic trying to get to Waterlooville to see her dad.

She said: ‘There was no warning that we or anyone else saw it seems from the volume of traffic. We ended up turning around and going via Southsea and M27. Took us over two hours!

‘Wasted our entire Saturday. It was really badly planned.’

A spokeswoman from Colas said: ‘In order to alleviate congestions, adjustments will be made to the traffic light sequence at Anchorage Road to allow freer flow of traffic.

‘During the works Colas will be resurfacing the carriageway and footway and carrying our maintenance works to the bridge as part of its life cycle replacement scheme.

‘Colas will also utilise the traffic management to carry out other general maintenance works in the area.

As the work is taking place over night, Colas expect minimal delays but would advise anyone travelling in or out of the city during the working hours to allow extra time for their journey and to follow the signed diversions.’

The road will reopen at 5am on Monday.

Eastern Road will also close to southbound traffic between Anchorage Road and the Eastern Road roundabout, Farlington, again from 9pm on Friday. Diversions will be in place.